West Heslerton: Anglian Settlement Structural Catalogue

012AD05100 and 012AD05210

Pits

Phasing

Although excavated as a single feature, it is obvious from the section drawings that at least two events are present, the first being a chalk quarry pit (one of a number in the immediate vicinity, all of which appear to be later Roman in date), filled with a mixed redeposited natural chalk, which was subsequently cut by a later pit. This pit contained an Anglian sherd, although it is possible that this was derived from the ditch 012AD008341, which cut both pits.

Stratigraphic Matrix Diagram

012AD05210

012AD05100

Discussion

This feature was rapidly excavated, which led to some difficulty in its interpretation in the field notes. It was evident from the section drawings that at least two separate events were present, an earlier chalk quarry pit subsequently infilled and then cut by a later pit.

The quarry pit contained three fills, the primary fill (012AD05242) being a sandy silty loam (Munsell colour 10YR 4/2), mixed with 20% chalk fragments, containing a single late Romano-British pot sherd. This was sealed by 012AD05215, a silty loam layer (Munsell colour 10YR 4/3) with very few chalk inclusions. Daub and charcoal flecking was noted, although there were no finds. The final fill of the quarry pit (012AD05099 = 012AD05199) was a sandy silty loam (Munsell colour 10YR 4/2) with between 15-20% chalk fragments. Both daub and charcoal flecking was noted, with a number of charcoal samples taken. The majority of the finds came from this upper layer, including two late Romano-British sherds and two iron pins (one with a flat round head). Animal bones were also found, mostly sheep/goat, although a single duck bone was present.

The second pit (012AD05210), contained 2 fills (although this was only seen in section), with the lower fill containing charcoal and 10% chalk inclusions, with the upper fill containing only 5% inclusions. An Anglian sherd was found in fill 012AD05331, although it is possible that this derived from the enclosure ditch 012AD08341, which cut through the pit.

The chalk quarry pit was cut into natural chalk, with an irregulat base and a wide U profile. The secondary pit was cut into the infilled quarry pit, with a V profile.

All Contexts and Associated Finds Totals

CUT	FILL	VOLUME	OBJECTS	AN BONE	DENSITY
012AD05100	012AD05099		28	13
	012AD05242		1	0
012AD05124	012AD05123		0	0
012AD05200	012AD05199		4	1
	012AD05215		0	0
012AD05210	012AD05209		2	6
012AD05254	012AD05253		0	0
012AD05256	012AD05255		0	0
012AD05332	012AD05331		5	1

012AD05099 Object Totals by Material and Period

KEY_ID	MATERIAL	PERIOD	No
012AD05099	CHARCOAL		14
	IRON		3
	POTTERY	3-4C	1
	STONE		3
	UNFIRED CLAY		1

012AD05099 Animal Bone Totals by Species

KEY_ID	SPECIES	No
012AD05099	Cattle	2
	Duck ? Scoter	1
	Sheep	2
	Sheep/Goat	7

Context Details

012AD05099 Section and Notes

KEY_ID	TYPE	SHAPE	L	B	D	PROFILE	NOTES
012AD05099	PIT FILL	OVATE	215	165	45	U-SHAPED	FILL OF PIT. PART OF COMPLEX OF INTERCUTTING PITS. 15% CHALK. CONSIDERABLE CHARCOAL INCLUSIONS. CONTAINED IRON.
012AD05100	PIT CUT	OVATE	215	165	45	WIDE U	CUT OF PIT. PART OF COMPLEX OF INTERCUTTING PITS. PARTICULARLY ELUSIVE CUT INTO REDEPOSITED NATURAL AND CHALK.
012AD05242	PIT FILL	UNCLEAR	75	50	10	U-SHAPED	LAYER OF PIT. LOWER STONIER LAYER OF 5099/5100. 20% CHALK.

012AD05124 Section and Notes

KEY_ID	TYPE	SHAPE	L	B	D	PROFILE	NOTES
012AD05123	PIT FILL	SUB-CIRCULAR	99	78	18	U-SHAPED	FILL OF PIT IN BASE OF PIT 5099/100. SILTY ASHY FILL WITH CONSIDERABLE CHARCOAL INCLUSIONS.5% CHALK. PROB. A DEEPER CUT OF THE SAME EVENT AS 5100.
012AD05124	PIT CUT	SUB-CIRCULAR	99	78	18	U-SHAPED	CUT OF PIT IN BASE OF PIT 5099/100. PROB. A DEEPER CUT OF THE SAME EVENT AS 5100.

012AD05200 Notes

KEY_ID	TYPE	SHAPE	L	B	D	PROFILE	NOTES
012AD05199	PIT FILL	SUB-CIRCULAR	90	60	28	U-SHAPED	UPPER STONIER FILL OF PIT. 20% CHALK WITH CHARCOAL AND OCCASIONAL DAUB INCLUSIONS.
012AD05200	PIT CUT	SUB-CIRCULAR	90	60	28	U-SHAPED	CUT OF PIT. CUT INTO CHALKY FILL OF LARGER POSS. QUARRY PIT. UNEVEN CUT.
012AD05215	PIT FILL	SUB-CIRCULAR	90	40	13	U-SHAPED	FILL OF PIT. LOWER SILTY DAUBY LAYER BELOW 5199. VERY LITTLE STONE CONTENT. CHARCOAL.

012AD05210 Section and Notes

KEY_ID TYPE SHAPE L B D PROFILE NOTES

012AD05209 PIT FILL SUB-CIRCULAR
92

89

38
U-SHAPED FILL OF PIT. 15% CHALK. OCCASIONAL CHARCOAL INCLUSIONS.

012AD05210 PIT CUT SUB-CIRCULAR
92

89

38
U-SHAPED CUT OF PIT. CUTS INTO REDEPOSITED. HILLWASH MATERIAL AND FILL OF LARGER QUARRY PIT UNDERLYING IT.

012AD05254 Notes

KEY_ID	TYPE	SHAPE	L	B	D	PROFILE	NOTES
012AD05253	PIT FILL	SUB-CIRCULAR	72	67	47	U-SHAPED	FILL OF PIT. -5% CHALK. NO VISIBLE INCLUSIONS.
012AD05254	PIT CUT	SUB-CIRCULAR	72	67	47	WIDE V	CUT OF PIT. CUTS INTO REDEPOSITED HILLWASH MATERIAL AND ALSO LARGER QUARRY PIT FILL THAT UNDERLIES IT.

012AD05256 Section and Notes

KEY_ID	TYPE	SHAPE	L	B	D	PROFILE	NOTES
012AD05255	POST HOLE FILL	OVATE	32	15	18	U-SHAPED	FILL OF POST HOLE SET INTO SIDE OF PIT 5099/100. VERY SILTY FILL WITH LITTLE STONE -5% AND OCCASIONAL CHARCOAL FLECKS. TRUE RELATIONSHIP WITH PIT UNCLEAR.
012AD05256	POST HOLE CUT	OVATE	32	15	18	VERT.SIDE U.BASE	CUT OF POST HOLE SET INTO SIDE OF PIT 5099/100. TRUE RELATIONSHIP WITH PIT UNCLEAR.

012AD05332 Notes

KEY_ID	TYPE	SHAPE	L	B	D	PROFILE	NOTES
012AD05331	PIT FILL	SUB-CIRCULAR	205	166	65	U-SHAPED	FILL OF CUT BY DITCH. SANDY LOAM WITH SLIGHT CLAY CONTENT AND MUCH REDEPOSITED CHALK NATURAL. 10-50% CHALK-MORE IN LOWER FILL.
012AD05332	PIT CUT	SUB-CIRCULAR	205	166	65	U-SHAPED	PIT CUT BY DITCH. CUT INTO CHALK BEDROCK. EXCAVATED WITH PICK AND SHOVEL - RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER QUARRY PITS MISSED.

Objects

KEY_ID	OB	PERIOD	MATERIAL	TYPE	SUB_TYPE	CLASS	No
012AD05099	AC		CHARCOAL	SAMPLE			1
012AD05099	AD		CHARCOAL	SAMPLE			1
012AD05099	AE		CHARCOAL	SAMPLE			1
012AD05099	AF		CHARCOAL	SAMPLE			1
012AD05099	AJ		CHARCOAL	SAMPLE			1
012AD05099	AK		CHARCOAL	SAMPLE			1
012AD05099	AL		CHARCOAL	SAMPLE			1
012AD05099	AM		CHARCOAL	SAMPLE			1
012AD05099	AN		CHARCOAL	SAMPLE			1
012AD05099	AO		CHARCOAL	SAMPLE			1
012AD05099	AP		CHARCOAL	SAMPLE			1
012AD05099	AR		CHARCOAL	SAMPLE			1
012AD05099	AS		CHARCOAL	SAMPLE			1
012AD05099	AT		CHARCOAL	SAMPLE			1
012AD05099	AA		IRON	PIN?			1
012AD05099	AB		IRON	PIN	FLAT ROUND HEAD		1
012AD05099	AI		IRON	IRON NAIL			1
012AD05099	AG	3-4C	POTTERY	SHERD	J	ROMANO-BRITISH	1
012AD05099	AH		STONE	STONE		RED SANDSTONE	1
012AD05099	AQ		STONE	STONE			1
012AD05099	AV		STONE	STONE			2
012AD05099	AU		UNFIRED CLAY				1
012AD05242	AA	3-4C	POTTERY	SHERD		ROMANO-BRITISH	1
012AD05331	AA		CHARCOAL	SAMPLE			1
012AD05331	AB	ANGLIAN	POTTERY	SHERD		ANGLIAN GTW	1
012AD05331	AC	L2-3	POTTERY	SHERD	BKCOR		1
012AD05331	AD		STONE	STONE			1
012AD05331	AE		STONE	STONE			1
012AD05199	AA		CHARCOAL	SAMPLE			1
012AD05199	AB		CHARCOAL	SAMPLE			1
012AD05199	AD	PREHISTORIC	FLINT	CORE FRAGMENT			1
012AD05199	AC	3-4C	POTTERY	SHERD	J	ROMANO-BRITISH	1
012AD05209	AB		CHARCOAL	SAMPLE			1
012AD05209	AA	3-4C	POTTERY	SHERD		ROMANO-BRITISH	1

Animal Bones

KEY_ID	SPECIES	ELEMENT	QUANT	CHEW	BURN	BUTCH	FBRK
012AD05099	Cattle	Phalanx 1	1	0	0	0	0
012AD05099	Cattle	Phalanx 2	1	0	0	0	0
012AD05099	Duck ? Scoter	Carpom/c	1	0	0	0	1
012AD05099	Sheep	M/C P	1	0	0	1	0
012AD05099	Sheep	Radius C	1	0	0	0	0
012AD05099	Sheep/Goat	Atlas	1	0	0	1	1
012AD05099	Sheep/Goat	Hyoid	1	0	0	0	0
012AD05099	Sheep/Goat	LM3	1	0	0	0	0
012AD05099	Sheep/Goat	Mand fr	1	0	0	0	1
012AD05099	Sheep/Goat	Mand fr	1	0	0	0	0
012AD05099	Sheep/Goat	Tibia br	1	0	0	0	1
012AD05099	Sheep/Goat	Ulna	1	0	0	0	1
012AD05331	Cattle	Tibia D	1	1	0	0	0
012AD05199	Cattle	Skull fr	1	0	0	0	0
012AD05209	Cattle	Occiput	1	0	0	0	0
012AD05209	Cattle	Tibia br	1	1	0	0	0
012AD05209	Pig	Radius C	1	0	0	0	0
012AD05209	Sheep	M/T C	1	0	0	0	0
012AD05209	Sheep/Goat	Mandible	1	0	0	0	0
012AD05209	Sheep/Goat	Patella	1	0	0	0	0